Biography of Peter Helwig, pages 617 / 618.  History of De Kalb County, 
Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Peter Helwig, farmer and stock-raiser, section 36, Franklin Township, was 
born in Carroll County, Ohio, Jan. 31, 1830, a son of Jacob Helwig, a native 
of Jefferson County, Ohio, and grandson of George Helwig, a native of Germany.  
Nov. 3, 1841, his parents moved to De Kalb County, Ind., and settled on a 
tract of timber land in Troy Township.  All kinds of wild animals common to 
Indiana were abundant.  His father was fond of hunting and furnished the 
family with plenty of meat.  He at one time killed four deer, from one of 
which they procured eighteen pounds of tallow.  Our subject received a fair 
education in the district schools, but was early in life obliged to assist 
his father on the farm.  When he started in life for himself he worked for 
fifty cents a day, and part of the time for $5 a month.  In this way he 
earned the money to pay for thirty-six acres of land, where he commenced his 
married life.  In the winter of 1853-’54 he built a lob cabin.  He had a 
stove and borrowed the rest of their furniture.  Their only sauce was 
dried elder-berries, and when cooked had to borrow a dish to put it in.  
They made their own sugar, he carrying the water night and morning, and 
his wife boiling it down during he day while he worked at the carpenter’s 
trade at fifty cents a day.  He was married Sept. 10, 1853, to Elizabeth 
Jadwin, daughter of Andrew Jadwin.  Of the five children born to them four 
are living---Phedima, Theodosia, Ann E., and Jacob R.  Phedima married Eli 
Bryan, and has one child---Luther Lee.  In 1866 Mr. Helwig sold his first 
home and bought the farm in Franklin Township where he has since lived.  
His father was a prominent man of the county, and in 1843-’44 represented 
his district in the Legislature.  He died Nov. 10, 1869.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com